After some debate over whether the difference between iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus models made with Samsung or TSMC chips may impact battery life, Apple has offered its own take on the matter:

Our testing and customer data show the actual battery life of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, even taking into account variable component differences, vary within just 2-3% of each other.”

That 2-3% difference may be greater than some suspected, myself included, considering how tight battery life on iPhones can be with moderate to heavy usage. Apple’s full statement (via Ars Technica) actually addresses the type of battery tests many testers reference when measuring performance as being unrealistic:

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Certain manufactured lab tests which run the processors with a continuous heavy workload until the battery depletes are not representative of real-world usage, since they spend an unrealistic amount of time at the highest CPU performance state. It’s a misleading way to measure real-world battery life.

Still, some benchmark tests have flagged some measurable differences between iPhones made with chips from different manufactures including varying performance scores and cooling levels.

In practice, these differences are likely not noticeable in the same way as the ones between iPhone generations year-over-year, but Apple does acknowledge that the current iPhone 6s and 6s Plus models aren’t totally on par with each other even if the difference is small. But the difference is apparently regardless of what chip variant you have and varies from iPhone to iPhone in general, even past generations. Apple didn’t, however, specifically address any performance differences between the chip variants being used.

Analysis from Chipworks revealed a week ago that the Samsung-made A9 chip which powers some iPhone models this year is 10% smaller than the TSMC-made version. Apple opted for a mix of suppliers for its A-series chip this year likely to ensure meeting demand.

Apple’s full statement below:

With the Apple-designed A9 chip in your iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus, you are getting the most advanced smartphone chip in the world. Every chip we ship meets Apple’s highest standards for providing incredible performance and deliver great battery life, regardless of iPhone 6s capacity, color, or model.

Certain manufactured lab tests which run the processors with a continuous heavy workload until the battery depletes are not representative of real-world usage, since they spend an unrealistic amount of time at the highest CPU performance state. It’s a misleading way to measure real-world battery life. Our testing and customer data show the actual battery life of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, even taking into account variable component differences, vary within just 2-3% of each other.

Don’t expect Apple to replace Samsung A9 iPhones with TSMC A9 iPhones or vice versa on demand. That would be disastrous and such requests should be firmly rejected. Of course the OCD crowd will go bonkers over this making all manner of claims and demands. They should be ignored by Apple.

Or, even better, the normal gold with a black front. I’ve wanted a gold phone with black glass ever since gold became an option, but Apple won’t let me buy it. This despite the fact that Apple offers that same colour combination in both a Watch and the new MacBook. But I can only have a gold phone if I get one with a white front, and the colour of the phone’s face is more important to me than the body colour. Given that I want black glass, I have no option but to buy the relatively boring-looking Space Grey. (I do like the Space Grey phones… but I like all of them, and Space Grey happens to be one of my least favourites. I’d really have preferred a gold one.)

What if… The Samsung chipped iPhones use Minebea backlights and the TSMC chipped iPhones use Radiant backlights or vice versa, or maybe the tested phones with different chips also have different backlight manufacturers. There are so many factors.

I’m satisfied with my Samsung a9 chip. The phone lasts me a full day at work, and when I get home I’m still at 70%.

My only question here again is… why the crap is Apple using Samsung for anything at all right now? Are they the only game in town or do they find it amusing to sue the company that makes part of their flagship products?

I have the 6S Plus with the TSMC chip. I can’t say anything against the Samsung chip as I have nothing to compare it too but I will say that my iPhones battery life is phenomenal. I charge it nightly out of habbit however, I’m pretty sure i would get 2 days of use out of it very easily. Longest I got out of it before popping it back on charge was 20 hours standby with 9 hours of use. I still had 18 percent battery. that was a long and unusually busy day for my phone. Top work Apple. My 6 plus was great but the 6S Plus is so much better.